5 Ways to Make Returning from Vacation a Breeze

It can be a bummer to come home from vacation: No more lazy afternoons on the beach, or exciting days exploring a new city, and back to the grind. Considering quitting our job and going on permanent holiday isn't an option for most of us, the trick to a happy return is making the most of our regular routine... which means finding ways to infuse happiness into our work life. Follow these tips for your first week back to work, and your new motto might just be TGIM (Thank God It's Monday, that is):

People who love their jobs most believe their work has real worth, studies say. So instead of catching up on busy work and filing, sink your teeth into a task that engages and excites you.

Find ways to be creative.

Use fun language in your emails, seek out a new way to complete a familiar to-do, or brainstorm a new project. Being creative on a day-to-day basis increases joy, according to studies, so inject inventiveness into your workday to improve your 9-5.

Ask for a new responsibility.

It seems counterintuitive to ask for more work at a time when you’re probably buried in work that’s piled up while you were away. But there’s no better way to re-engage with your job than to seek out some ownership. Studies find that workers who have autonomy are more content than those who are micromanaged.

Plan another vacation

Okay, I know this one isn’t about being happier at work. But, it always helps your mood (and studies prove it!) to have a trip on the calendar to look forward to, even if it’s months away.

Dr. Catherine Birndorf is a psychiatrist specializing in women’s health, founding director of the Payne Whitney Women’s Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in NYC, co-author of The Nine Rooms of Happiness and SELF’s Happiness Expert.

Got an issue with your job, your boyfriend or your roommate? Dr. Birndorf can help! Write to her, and her advice for you could appear in a future blog or issue of SELF.